Kenny Brooks Appreciates What Amelia Hassett, Teonni Key Do

Amelia Hassett (33) and Teonni Key (right) find a variety of ways to contribute to Kentucky wins. (Vicky Graff Photo)

As good as Dazia Lawrence (28 points) and Georgia Amoore (27 points, nine assists) were — and they were spectacular — in Kentucky’s 91-60 win over Mississippi State Thursday, don’t overlook what Amelia Hassett and Teonni Key also did.

Key had a double-double with 10 points and a career-tying 13 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season while Hassett just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Key has scored in double digits 11 times this season and she also had four blocks, three assists, and one steal. She took only five shots in 33 minutes but went 6-for-6 at the foul line.

Hassett went 3-for-6 from 3 for her 10th double-figure scoring game this season. She also had five assists and one block. Hassett had eight shots in her 35 minutes.

Both were content not to force any shots with the way Lawrence and Amoore were scoring.

Coach Kenny Brooks said it was a “testament to the character of this team” the way Key and Hassett adapt to how the game is going.

“They just want to win. We put them (UK players) together by design. We did not want just the best players but we wanted the absolute best people,” Brooks said.

Brooks said both Hassett and Key knew Amoore and Lawrence, who both had seven 3-pointers, “were hitting and had hot hands” against Mississippi State.

“Amelia does what she does. She does not hunt shots but she has no conscience (about shooting). She fills the stat sheet and rebounds. She defends in a way we ask. She is not a lockdown defender, but she chases people and makes them shoot tough shots. At 6-3 she is a small forward who can block shots, chase rebounds, and hit 3’s,” Brooks said.

“It’s just a testament to them (Key and Hassett) how much they share in each other’s success.”

Kentucky continues SEC play at Vanderbilt on Sunday and Brooks believes he “built” a team the right way to compete in the SEC.

“We put this team together for opportunities like this,” he said after the Mississippi State win. “From the get-go, we were executing on both ends of the floor.

“I have seen Vandy play a couple of times. They are extremely talented. They have a young player playing exceptionally well. I told the kids from here on out every game will be a challenge. It will be a big test for us.”

That “young” player is freshman Mikayla Blakes who set the Vanderbilt women’s basketball freshman record for most points scored in a game with 36in a 108-82 victory over Georgia to open SEC play. It was her ninth 20-point game of the season for Vandy (14-1).

The Commodores have won 11 straight home games going back to last season.

Five Commodores scored 10 or more points in the win over Georgia, 5he third time this season that Vanderbilt has had five or more players score at least 10 points in a game. Sophomore Khamil Pierre extended her double-digit scoring streak to 17 games with a 28-point effort.

Brooks said former players and friends were texting him before UK opened SEC play.

“My stomach was in knots. I was a little bit anxious. I wanted to get it going. We are a little bit different (as a team),” he said.  “We are long, we play a different style.